Open heart ICU

Specialties CCU

Published

How is it looked upon for new graduates to apply for work in an Open heart unit? Did any of you go directly into an open heart ICU after graduation? Do you know of a new grad who did?

I'm a senior and I have a teacher who believes that nobody should even work in the ICU without years of med-surg experience. She said, "Back in my day, open heart nurses were the cream of the crop." I think she may just be bitter that things have changed, but I would like a fair view of how you see this issue in your workplace.

I agree with all those who believe that new grads are fresh crops & if mentored properly do a wonderful job. I being a nursing director in one of the good cardiac institute have seen number of new grads becoming team leaders within a short period of 9 - 12 months.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

undefinedundefined

p.s. open heart nurses are still the "cream of the crop!"

I used to think so as a nurse who has worked from med surg,sicu , and ccu and cvi. But I was so embarrassed for nurses by the behavior of one cvicu nurse this week. My dad had a cabg and was just back from surgery 4or 5 hours and was weaned from the vent. Resps and bp ok for a fresh heart as well as cardiac index, out put, and pap, map.. He was crying in pain and begging for something. MY sister simply asked if he could have something for pain and the nurse went crazy. NOT Explaining to her he just had his ET tube removed and the need to be sure he had a gag reflex but telling her I dont even know if he can swallow he may aspirate. Hes not in that much pain , men just can't take it. If they had to have babies we would be extinct. I tried to intervene by asking if he had anything at all IV he could have. That only made her worse. She said He had orders but I don't give iv drugs after a pt is off the vent. I find they don't do as well. Besides he already had a large dose of Morphine. I asked how much and when. He had gotten 4mg two hours previously. I said well my dad is 270 pds that really isn't much. She proceeded to scream he would be back on a vent and shoved two darvocet down his throat without even telling him here is something for pain or checking his gag reflex. He continued to cry in pain and when I asked he said it was a 10. After 30 minutes he was hyperventilating and becoming agitated begging me to get him something for pain. I told the nurse who said its no ten. I said my dad never complains about anything he hurts. She says I have been a nurse 23 years and don't need someone to tell ME how to do my job. You are going to have pain with heart surgery and HE isn't hurting that bad. I said the pain and using his cardiac reserve and increasing his heart work due to pain and hyperventilating would put him back on the vent also and I wanted to speak to the Dr if we didn't control his pain. She gave toradol which helped alot and he has been fine since. Up in chair and has not had pain out of control since. HE actually apologized for moaning in pain. She was so mean to my sister and I wonder how many pts of hers have been in pain without an advocate. I spoke to the charge nurse who asked me not to go to the supervisor that she would talk to her. I didn't but wonder if I should have. This nurse felt she was perfect and treated my sister like she was stupid.

.....as are all nurses in their chosen specialty! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have only been a nurse nine years but know of some major lawsuits in our area where pts did not have pain control. We would not do that as a family but I see how someone would in this instance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care/ICU.

Just to clarify...The quote in post #12 is not my story. The only part of that quote that's mine is, "p.s. open heart nurses are still the "cream of the crop!" and ".....as are all nurses in their chosen specialty! :D" I think it was just a posting error.

So sorry to hear about your family's experience Figo. That RN in the CVICU was WRONG, plain and simple. I would have complained to the supervisor for sure. At this point, you could still write a letter and you should.

For the first few hours following extubation, I continue to give IV (instead of PO) pain meds for a couple of reasons. One is that the patient may not be swallowing very well yet and another is that I GUARANTEE you that a patient just extubated who is given anything PO, especially the amount of water it would take to swallow two tablets, WILL THROW UP.

Your dad's gag reflex was fine...he was talking right? You had a terrible experience with a terrible nurse. Please don't relate that experience to all of us!

:p

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was a new grad, straight to ccu, 1 year later cticu, this is common where I'm at.

Figo, It apears you kept your cool, I probably wouldn't have, pleae write a letter. This person evidently has a control issue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am thinking about all the other areas of nursing that are also cream of the crops...maybe we all are:) But I disagree, nothing beats a few years of a catch all med surg unit for a great enterence into a specialty.

p.s. open heart nurses are still the "cream of the crop!"

.....as are all nurses in their chosen specialty! :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:)

I was a new grad, straight to ccu, 1 year later cticu, this is common where I'm at.

Figo, It apears you kept your cool, I probably wouldn't have, pleae write a letter. This person evidently has a control issue.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have precepted many new grads into the SICU open heart unit and many of them were LPN's prior to RN and some weren't, but as long as they have a willingness to learn and fully understand the seriousness of the position, I have no problem working alongside these new grads.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have precepted many new grads into the SICU open heart unit and many of them were LPN's prior to RN and some weren't, but as long as they have a willingness to learn and fully understand the seriousness of the position, I have no problem working alongside these new grads.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Have your instructor do some recent research... lots of articles saying the BEST place for new graduate these days is the ICU because you get a better orientation and are able to be watched much more closely.. interesting trend.

I have trained MANY new grads to ICU and within six months to a year to recover open hearts. Some do fine and some find out critical care isn't for them. The ones who are successful are the ones who study outside of work, who go to advanced training even if it's not paid for by the hospital and ask lots of questions.

Go for it and GOOD LUCK!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CTICU.

I was a new grad to the CTICU at UCLA about a year and a half ago. On this unit, we do it all. Our new grad program is excellent, in my opinion, and we have trained many others since then. I always research the medications I am unfamiliar with, ask tons of questions, and attend as many advanced training sessions as possible (AACN is having a conference in April in PA). My next goal is to take the CCRN exam.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Open Heart.

I started on an open heart unit immediately after I graduated and I wouldn't have done it any other way.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment